Rock-rose

Helianthemum nummularium

About

Common Rock-rose is a low-growing, creeping, evergreen shrub that likes sunny chalk grassland, cliffs and rocks. It flowers from June to September and can grow in dense clusters, colouring the grey-green landscape bright yellow. Common Rock-rose provides plenty of nectar for various bees and is also the foodplant of several species of butterfly such as the Brown Argus, Green Hairstreak and rare Silver-studded Blue.

How to identify

The flowers of Common Rock-rose have five bright yellow, crinkly petals, and the underneath of the leaves are white and woolly.

Where to find it

Grows throughout mainland UK; especially common in Scotland and southern England.

Habitats

When to find it

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

How can people help

The Common Rock-rose is characteristic of chalk and limestone grasslands. Areas of rare and unique wildlife, chalk grasslands have been likened to rainforest for the diversity of species they hold. But they are being lost at an alarming rate due to changes in land use causing the decline of grazing: it's estimated that we've lost 80% of our chalk grassland over the last 60 years. The Wildlife Trusts manage many grassland nature reserves for the benefit of the rare wildlife they hold. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from scrub-cutting to stockwatching.